Streaming of segmented content

Abstract

Methods and systems for enabling streaming of segmented content from a content delivery network to an adaptive streaming client on the basis of a manifest file are described wherein the said manifest file may comprise one or more segment identifiers. The method may comprise: selecting at least one segment identifier from said manifest file, said identifier identifying a segment that has not been requested by said client; and, sending pre-announce information to said content delivery network for announcing in advance that said segment may be requested by said client, said pre-announce information comprising said at least one segment identifier, said pre-announce information being further arranged for triggering said content delivery network to ensure availability of said segment upon receiving said request.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to streaming of segmented content and, in particular, though not exclusively, to a method for enabling streaming of segmented content from a delivery node to a device comprising an adaptive streaming client, a device comprising an adaptive streaming client for streaming of segmented content, a network node and a data structure for use with a client and a computer program product using such method.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Currently an increasing number of video streaming techniques make use of so-called segmentation. For example, HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS), Scalable Video Coding (SVC) and spatially segmented video (e.g. tiled video) use segmentation on the basis of time, quality and space respectively. During the segmentation process a so-called manifest file will be generated which describes the relation between the different segment files and / or streams and the location where the segments may be retrieved. A segment file ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a method for enabling streaming of segmented content from a delivery node to an adaptive streaming client on the basis of a manifest file. The manifest file comprises one or more segment identifiers, which are associated with segments that have not been requested by the client. The method includes selecting at least one segment identifier from the manifest file and sending pre-announce information to the delivery node or content delivery network to announce that the segment may be requested by the client. This pre-announcement information triggers the delivery node or network to ensure availability of the segment when requested by the client. This method reduces delays due to segment misses and ensures high quality segments are delivered to the client. The pre-announce information may be sent over a separate communication channel, such as a bi-directional Websocket channel, which allows for dynamic activation and adjustment of the pre-announce function.

Problems solved by technology

The delivery of popular segments to clients from a single, (too) remote server may clog up network bandwidth.

In some cases however, segments identified in a manifest file may not (yet) be available on the delivery node when a client requests them.

In the above-described situations, a segment request may result in the non-availability of a segment (a “cache miss”), which may trigger a process (e.g. a dynamic ingestion process) wherein the requested segments are provided to the delivery node.

The ingestion of segments may invoke delays in the segments retrieval process by the client and reduction of the bandwidth that is available to the clients.

This may cause a substantial deterioration in the user experience.

In the worst case, the client cannot maintain seamless playout of segments.

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